One of the best war movies ever is on TV tonight

Stephen Porzio

The modern classic was also recently added to Prime Video.

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Our TV movie pick for tonight (Saturday, 13 July) is Black Hawk Down, which was recently named one of the greatest war films of all time.

Directed by Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Gladiator) and based on actual events, the movie takes place in 1993 as the US send special forces into Somalia to destabilise the government and bring food and humanitarian aid to the starving population.

“Using Black Hawk helicopters to lower the soldiers onto the ground, an unexpected attack by Somalian forces brings two of the helicopters down immediately,” the plot synopsis reads.

“From there, the US soldiers must struggle to regain their balance while enduring heavy gunfire.”

With Eric Bana, Ewan McGregor, Josh Hartnett, Sam Shepard, Tom Sizemore and William Fichtner leading a truly massive supporting cast, the authentic performances -alongside Scott’s gritty and immersive action sequences – are extremely effective in capturing the chaos of war.

This is so much so that the film was recently voted the fourth best war movie of all time on the website Ranker, with only Platoon, Full Metal Jacket and Saving Private Ryan in the No. 1 spot polling ahead of it.

Black Hawk Down is airing on TV tonight on RTÉ2 at 9.40pm. It was also only recently added to Prime Video.

You can check out a trailer for the movie right here:

Here are the other movies on TV tonight:

The King’s Man – Channel 4 – 9pm

This prequel in the Kingsman series of spy comedies takes place during WWI and stars Ralph Fiennes.

Beverly Hills Cop III – Sky Showcase – 9pm

The much-maligned third entry in the action comedy franchise.

Dude, Where’s My Car – Comedy Central – 9pm

In this Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott-fronted comedy, two friends wake up with the realisation they have absolutely no memory of the events of the night before.

Braven – Legend – 9pm

In this well-reviewed action thriller, a logger (Jason Momoa) and his father (Stephen Lang) on a trip to their hunting cabin find themselves fighting for survival when they encounter a gang of ruthless drug traffickers.

Blind Fury – Legend Xtra – 9pm

Rutger Hauer stars as a blind, sword-wielding Vietnam War veteran in this ’80s action comedy.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – RTÉ One – 9.35pm

A surprise box-office hit when it came out in 2011, this comedy-drama centres on a group of British pensioners (played by the likes of Bill Nighy, Judy Dench and Maggie Smith) who move to a retirement hotel in India.

Still Alice – TG4 – 10.15pm

Julianne Moore won a Best Actress Oscar for playing a woman diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in this drama.

Hot Fuzz – ITV4 – 10.20pm

Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s buddy cop action comedy classic.

The Five-Year Engagement – Comedy Central – 10.40pm

In this rom-com, a man (Jason Segel) proposes to his girlfriend (Emily Blunt) but unexpected events keep tripping them up as they look to walk down the aisle together.

The Last Stand – Channel 4 – 11.40pm

Arnold Schwarzenegger leads this 2013 action flick playing a tough small town sheriff who must stop a dangerous drug lord from escaping to Mexico in a modified sports car. Probably his best late period movie to date.

Every Which Way But Loose – RTÉ One – 11.55pm

The action comedy in which Clint Eastwood has a pet ape.

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